A QUARTER of engineering and manufacturing firms in Yorkshire have been hit by a shortage of skilled workers, a survey has revealed.

Some 25% of employers polled by Jonathan Lee Recruitment said a lack of skilled workers had created problems meeting delivery times while 21% said it affected the quality of their products.

Half of firms complaining about skill shortages said they had been in that position for between one and three years, while a quarter said it had been a problem for more than three years.

Over a third said they didn’t have a big enough recruitment budget to get the staff they needed.

Andy Tierney, regional manager for Jonathan Lee Recruitment in the north, said: “There is a perception that because of the economic downturn and inevitable redundancies, there is suddenly an increase in the number of engineering skills available to employers – thus ending the skills shortage.

“Our research shows that the candidates on the market are not necessarily suitable for the jobs that are available. Engineering and manufacturing firms are still struggling to recruit specialist skilled people to meet their needs.”